Dan Sollis

Dust off your Proton Packs and jump onboard the ECTO-1 as there’s a new GHOSTBUSTERS movie out! A proper sequel, unlike the disappointingly mediocre 2016 reboot by Paul Feig, GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE continues the story and universe of the first two films, taking place quite literally in the present day (2021). Written and directed by Jason Reitman, son of the original director Ivan Reitman (and a respected filmmaker in his own right with films like JUNO and UP IN THE AIR) the film focuses on the daughter and grandkids of Egon Spengler as they inherit a beaten up old farmhouse in rural Oklahoma where he was working on a mysterious project before his death. It’s not long before supernatural forces are unleashed and the family have to work together to avert impending apocalyptic events. But not without the help of a few old faces too! The addition of the kids adds more than a dash of STRANGER THINGS to the proceedings (especially since it shares some casting) but that’s no bad thing, given the deep love of 80s nostalgia both properties share. I really liked the casting overall and thought Mckenna Grace (playing Phoebe, the granddaughter) was fantastic. You could really see Harold Ramis’s character echoed in her performance. The film’s a touching tribute to the much-missed Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014. It’s breezily directed with nice easygoing vibes between the characters. They’re relatable and likeable. Cinematography is handsome, shot on Alexa with Anamorphic lenses which helps give it a bit of an 80s blockbuster vibe. But what really impressed me was the score, by Rob Simonsen. It’s clearly an extension of Elmer Bernstein’s original music, and re-uses many of the themes. However it cleverly extends it and builds on it in a way that managed to feel completely organic and natural. Bernstein passed away in 2004, but his music was one of the defining features of Ghostbusters. Having such a credible homage his score for this film really helped sell it as a true continuation of the series. There are some things that weren’t so good. There’s a few retreads of plot ideas from the first film that didn’t feel different enough (or were done well enough) to really land. And I also kind of wish there had been a new and more original “Big-bad” for the film, rather than reviving a villain we’ve already seen. But but ultimately in the grand scheme of things, these are relatively minor quibbles. It’s a really fun movie and a lovingly-crafted nostalgia trip. If you’re a fun of the original movies, I wholeheartedly recommend it. And hang around for both of the post-credits scenes - they’re worth it!